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opinion

Letter to the Editor: Fellman for school funding measures

Posted
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 12:06 pm

As a retired math teacher and administrator, former school board member, parent of two successful Jeffco graduates, and a grandmother, I’ve dreamed of the day we’d have an opportunity to increase education funding statewide. In Jefferson County, despite years of insufficient funding and difficult budget choices, our students are still blessed to have access to learning opportunities that don’t always exist in other parts of Colorado. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all students across our state have the opportunity to reach his or her full potential!

While serving on the school board and reviewing the budget during four years of continuous, detrimental cuts, I learned firsthand that Colorado’s education funding has not recovered since the recession. In the 2017-2018 school year alone, schools across the state were underfunded by nearly $830 million, placing us (depending upon the metric used) about 39th nationally. That is unacceptable! Every student deserves the chance to succeed regardless of zip code.

As a result of our woefully inadequate funding, school administrators are constrained to make educational programming decisions based on available funds – not on what is best for students. Amendment 73 addresses current funding challenges by increasing the base funding for all students. It also ensures that local control prevails – each school district (with input from their community) makes the important decision on how to spend the increased funds.

My grandchildren and all Colorado children deserve the educational funding that will allow them to compete in our 21st century economy.